Collins slams Hegseth’s removal of senior military officers

Senator Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, criticised Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over the removal of more than two dozen senior US military officers. She said she was deeply troubled by the scale of the departures and questioned why experienced leaders had been dismissed or sidelined without clear public explanations, raising concerns about continuity and confidence in Pentagon leadership.

The criticism came during a committee hearing as Hegseth defended the administration’s defence policies. Reporting cited in the article says the changes have affected generals and admirals across the armed forces; separate reports have also alleged that promotions for some women and Black officers were blocked or delayed, allegations the Pentagon has rejected. Collins’s intervention is notable because it signals unease from a senior Republican senator, not solely Democratic opposition.